Birdwatching


A.Birdwatching - or birding as it is commonly known - has long been of the most popular pastimes internationally. No one knows just how far back in time it goes but there are references to it in Shakespeare in the early 17th century, while the term birdwatching was coined in the early 20th century.

B.In the early days it was mainly huntsmen who studied birds. It was not until the late 18th century that the modern pastime of observing birds for their aesthetic value began. Gilbert White, the famed naturalist and zoologist, did much to popularize the identification of birds through observation alone in his seminal work “The Natural History and Antiquities of Selbourne”. He was certainly one the pioneers of the fledgling science of ornithology – or the study of birds. He was among the first to distinguish the similar-looking chiffchaff, willow warbler and wood warbler by means of their song alone.

C.During the Victorian era the academic science of ornithology gradually transformed itself into the popular pastime of today. In the early 1800s, it was fashionable for the wealthy to invest in vast egg collections, often by obtaining specimens from colonies. Charles Darwin as the official naturalist aboard the Beagle was responsible for collecting many eggs for the British Museum. In this era, it was also common for birdwatchers also to shoot birds in order to study them more closely. By the turn of the century, however, the emphasis shifted towards the protection of birds and the observation of the birds in their natural habitat.

D.The modern-day birdwatcher is frequently labelled a “twitcher”. In point of fact, twitching is itself just one form of birdwatching. A twitcher is a birdwatcher who will travel long distances to sight a rare bird that can be then checked off a list. The term originated in the 1950s when, with the development of modern transport systems, it became possible to travel long distances quickly to see a rare bird that a local ornithologist had sighted. Aside from twitching, birdwatchers today are likely to be involved in a whole array of activities including taking part in censuses of migratory bird populations.

E.The growth in popularity of birdwatching has led to a birdwatching industry. In some regions, such as the Danube Delta in Romania, it is one of the primary sources of tourism and there are several well-established holiday companies such as Ornitholidays that specialise in bird watching holidays. Also, if you visit any large book store, you will find shelves and shelves of books devoted to birds, with the great classic being Where to Watch Birds by John Gooders.

F.You do not, however, need to travel to far-flung destinations to take part, you can begin birdwatching in your garden or even in your own backyard if you are a city-dweller. Just position a bird table in view of a window and, with the assistance of an illustrated guide, in no time at all you will be able to learn how to distinguish birds by their plumage and other behavioural characteristics. Of the 250 or so species that can be seen regularly in Britain, however, only a small proportion, perhaps 25, are likely to descend upon your garden. For the rest you must travel farther afield.

G.To get the most from a day’s birdwatching, visit one of the 2000 or so nature reserves run by such organisations as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the county nature conservation trusts, the National Trust, the Wildfowl Trust and many local authorities. Before setting out, consult your guidebook to find out what species you are likely to see, and familiarise yourself with them. You may also find it worthwhile joining your local birdwatching society. Most societies organise visits to nature reserves and sanctuaries.

H.To identify birds by their plumage at long range or to study them close to, you need binoculars with an eight or ten times magnification. However, even without them you can learn how to recognise birds by their silhouettes and flight behaviour. However, learning to identify birds from their songs and call-notes alone is one of the most satisfying aspects of birdwatching. It is no straightforward task, as many birds have similar songs, some mimic others and at times they all seem to sing simulataneously – especially at dawn.

I.You will have little difficulty in recognising some of the more distinctive calls – the plaintive “peee-wit” of a lapwing, the gentle”coo-coo” of a wood pigeon, or the mournful “coor-li” of a curlew as it wings its way across a moor.